Circle of Champions

Our Champions truly epitomize the word “Champion” itself. This select group of leaders raises millions of dollars for Best Buddies annually, and they impact their local programs in an extraordinary and unprecedented way. While they compete for weeks, we revere their commitment to inclusion forever and lean on their wisdom to guide future Champions.

1,800

Champions

$27.7

Million Raised

Our 2022 Top 3

1 | $123,000

Alyssa and Asher

Asher Ward

Oklahoma

2 | $99,207

Angela Andrews with Best Buddies staff

Angela Andrews

New Jersey

3 | $98,513

JohnThomas Atema

JohnThomas Atema

Tennessee

Our Nationwide Champion of the Year Winners

Lillian Hill is the Champion of the Year

Alabama
Lillian Hill
$11,000.00+

Arizona Champion of the Year Kailey Sullivan

Arizona
Kailey Sullivan

Bay Area Winner, BJ White

California: Bay Area
BJ White
$31,795

Los Angeles Champion of the Year, Kristen Van Handel

California: Los Angeles
Kristen Van Handel
$66,000

AJ Arciniega

California: San Diego
AJ Arciniega
$15,231

Matt Davies, and his Campaign Manager, Val Sobol

Connecticut
Matt Davies & Val Sobol
$16,000.00

Brianna Wolfle and her Mission Partner, Ben Moulder

Delaware
Brianna Wolfle & Ben Moulder
$10,900.00

Kayla Sharp with mission partner and family

Florida: North Florida
Kayla Sharp
$98,490.00

Orlando COY Champions, Fabio Zacco and Marvin Fung

Florida: Orlando
Fabio Zacco & Marvin Fung
$46,613.00

Marc Pintel & Mission Partner Stephen Shore

Florida: Palm Beach
Marc Pintel & Stephen Shore
$23,273.02

Michelle Kligman and Carolina Rousell

Florida: South Florida
Michelle Kligman and Carolina Rousell
$55,094

SW Florida Champion David Elkins and Mission Partner Julie Lyle

Florida: Southwest Florida
David Elkins with Mission Partner Julie Lyle
$7,585

Broward Champion of the Year - Laura Greary

Florida: Tampa Bay
Laura Greary
$33,410.00

Chmpion of the Year Andrew Dixon

Georgia
Andrew Dixon
$58,000

Brian Yano and Hoopiookalani Balaz

Hawaii
Brian Yano and Ho’opi’ookalani Balaz
$24,000

2023 Champion of the Year for Central Illinois, Beth Hayes

Illinois: Central Illinois
Beth Hayes
$23,520

Victoria Hill

Illinois: Chicago
Victoria Hill
$50,000.00

Indiana Champion of the Year Reid Brenton

Indiana
Reid Brenton, Champion & Pete Steinkamp, Mission Partner
$69.950.07

Kimberly Krantz

Iowa
Kimberly Krantz
$50,900.00

COY Winner Kentucky

Kentucky
Ami Cain and Cam Brian
$17,415.00

Maine Champion of the Year Fiona MacArthur

Maine
Fiona MacArthur and Mission Partner, Payton Brown
$52,000.00

Julia Goldsmith

Maryland
Julia Goldsmith
$11,400.00

Michigan Champions of the Year Nick Paruch and John Wyskiel

Michigan
Nick Paruch and John Wyskiel
$69,500.00

Minnesota Champion of the Year Sara Messerli

Minnesota
Sara Messerli and mission partner, Maggie Erickson
$44,216.00

Lloyd Lewis

Mountain (CO & UT)
Lloyd Lewis & Kennedy Lewis
$31,248.93

Camille Herd and her Mission Partner, Gabi

Nevada
Camille Herd & Gabi
$35,000.00

New Hampshire Champion of the Year, Jennifer Corriveau

New Hampshire
Jennifer Corriveau and her Mission Partner James Masterson
$49,371.19

Angela Andrews with Best Buddies staff

New Jersey
Angela Andrews
$99,207.00

Terry Casey, 2022 Arizona's Champion of the Year.

New Mexico
Terry Casey
$10,258.00

Caroline Hewitt

Western New York
Caroline Hewitt
$6,725.00

Trinity and Meg holding award

New York: Albany
Trinity Hogben & Meg Phelps
$10,000.00

Stephen and Avery Day

North Carolina
Stephen and Avery Day
$15,000.00

Cleveland Champion of the Year Katie Kilmek

Ohio: Cleveland
Katie Kilmek
$65,000.00

2023 Columbus Champions Sharla and Alex

Ohio: Columbus
Alex Rogers & Sharla Thomas
$20,000.00

Alyssa and Asher

Oklahoma
Asher Ward
$123,000.00

Kendall Campbell

Oregon
Kendall Campbell
$44,000.00

Philadelphia Champion of the Year Ashley Long

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
Ashley Long
$9,159.00

Megan Defebo 2022 Champion, Deidre Kramer 2021 Champion and Noreen Liebrock 2020 Champion.

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh
Megan Defebo

Knox Hudson

South Carolina
Knox Hudson
$94,158.00

JohnThomas Atema

Tennessee
JohnThomas Atema
$98,513.00

Houston Champion of the Year Jordyn Ensell

Texas: Houston
Jordyn Ensell and her Mission Partner Juliette Molloy
$83,974.72

Chris Boult and Annemarie Carrigan

Texas: North Texas
Chris Boult & Annemarie Carrigan
$80,850.00

Washington Champion of the Year Courtney Block

Washington
Courtney Block
$45,000

Champions of the Year Rose, Dave and Reilly Donovan

Washington, DC
Champions of the Year Rose, Dave and Reilly Donovan
$64,850.00

Madison and Amelia holding award

Wisconsin
Madison Dettmann & Amelia Jennings
$36,000